BART again selected as managing agency for Capitol Corridor

BART again selected as managing agency for Capitol Corridor

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) has been selected once again to manage the Capitol Corridor intercity rail service for a five-year term.

The 16 member Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority Board represents eight counties along the 170-mile rail corridor serving Placer, Sacramento, Yolo, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, San Francisco and Santa Clara counties. The Capitol Corridor is the only locally managed Amtrak service in the nation. The route parallels both the I-80/I-680 and I-880 corridors in segments from Auburn, in the Sierra foothills, through Sacramento to Oakland and Silicon Valley/San Jose. An extensive, dedicated motorcoach network provides bus connections to the train from more distant parts of the state. Together, the system serves the second-largest urban service area in the Western United States.

Started in 1991 by the State of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the Capitol Corridor has clearly established itself as a vital component in Northern California's system of transport, and now ranks as the third busiest Amtrak-operated route in the country. A full time dedicated staff of 11 BART employees provides the day-to-day management for this service. Under contract with the CCJPA, Amtrak operates and maintains the trains and feeder bus service.

BART was originally selected as the managing agency by the CCJPA in February of 1999, for an initial term of 3 years. In 2002, that term was extended for another three years until February 2005. This most recent selection means that BART will continue to serve as the CCJPA's managing agency through February 2010.

BART General Manager Tom Margro noted that renewal of the Capitol Corridor managing agreement "reaffirms BART's position as a key regional rail provider in Northern California and provides a true compliment to Gene Skoropowski and his team of dedicated BART professionals who manage the railroad service. We are very proud of what they have accomplished, working with Caltrans, Amtrak, Union Pacific, our member agencies and riders."

The Capitol Corridor route has achieved remarkable success, accomplishing six consecutive years of ridership growth. BART's operational management of the Capitol Corridor service for the CCJPA commenced October 1, 1998. During the initial six years, service levels improved 200%, ridership improved 152%, revenues improved 110% and fare box recovery improved 30%.